So after being hit by a car in May 2016, I have been on a love/hate recovery road back to riding most days, with the possibility of competing again in a fashion. Moving house recently, from having a 10 mile commute to work, into a 20 mile commute to work, so a 40 mile round trip, is unintentionally getting me back into riding long distances. I am starting to enjoy the bicycle again!
I completed my first Audax 3 days ago. If you are unsure what an Audax is, it is basically a really long bike ride. The Audax I rode was the Peculiar Old 200, which was 200km and reasonably flat, but with some pretty persistent winds. Apparently 200km is a short Audax! It certainly didn’t feel like it on Saturday. Here are the events of the day, as much as I can recollect:
6.30am- Alarm rings, I groan and hit the snooze button.
6.35am- Alarm rings, I (unintentionally) throw the phone to the floor and get up. Coffee brewing within minutes and kit already organised from last night put on and I start to distribute the array of sugary goodness purchased from Asda evenly into my jersey pockets.
7.00am- Double portion of porridge enters the microwave
7.17am- Leave the flat and cycle to 2.5 mile to the start, still dark so full lights on.
7.30am- Arrive at the start, McDonalds, to see bike lined up outside, a group of like minded people inside, lycra clad, eating ice cream and drinking coffee, I have the right place! I park the bike up and go to collect my Brevet card, while Dean, the organiser, explains the different checkpoints and wishes me good luck on the ride!
7.50am- Meet up with a friend who I used to race with and who I will be riding with today.
7.59am- Lined up outside and off we go, only 200km left.
This being my first Audax, I was unsure of what to expect. A reasonably quick start and a group of around 20 formed, which by the first control after 20 minutes reduced to 8 or so. Heading west, we got hit by some pretty strong winds and the first 30 odd mile was very tough going to Middleton-in-Teesdale.
A quick stop off at a small shop for a few chocolate bars to keep us going and a can of coke, we were off again, this time heading south with a side tail wind, which I was more than pleased with.
Passing through some rolling lanes with a tail wind did wonders for the legs, as well as the mental state of knowing that we still had around 70 mile to go!
Barnard Castle was busy with cars, and a short steep climb in the centre got the legs warm again.
Our plan was for a cafe stop in Richmond, but the cafe we were heading for was closed, so we plodded on and through the barracks of Catterick Garrison, dodging the ‘tanks turning’ signs.
We stop for a coffee and caramel slice, as well as some more coke (sugar intake has rocketed today, but I am in need!) with around 45 mile to go. Starting to feel tired and have never really cycled much further than this bar once or twice, so feel like I am riding a bit into the unknown.
We reach Masham and the penultimate control with the allure of beer and an all you can eat buffet, but I worry if I say yes, then my ride will end in the pub and I wont make it back home! We push on North.
Through Bedale and under the A1, through the narrow autumn lanes of the Tees Valley and with 25 mile or so to go, I feel I can ride no longer. Im totally knackered. Luckily a whole malt loaf is hidden away in my jersey pocket, so I wolf down a whole loaf to myself (not recommended). However, under these particular circumstances, it serves me well and with 20 mile to go, we reach the last control. This is the best by far, greeted with as much cake as we can eat and hot coffee! We stop and chat for 10-15 minutes, eat cake and rest the legs. 2 other riders were already at the control, so the four of us ride the last 20 mile together and the chat keeps the mind from wandering to my legs!
The pub is in sight, we hop up onto the kerb, and down to the pub. Greeted by the organiser and straight to the bar! The Guinness stay’s in the glass for around 5 minutes and is transferred very efficiently to my body.
Ride Stats
200km ridden
7:31:32 riding time
8:30:00 Elapsed time
7,215ft climbing
4 litres of water drank
2 cans of coke drank
1 Mug of coffee drank
2 Mars Bars ate
1 Snickers ate
1 Belvita ate
1 caramel slice ate
1 slice of carrot cake and 1 slice of lemon cake ate
1 malt loaf, demolished in under a minute
So when is the next one of these things?
Jordan Matthews 